An agreement has been reached between ESCP and ASCRS, who developed the ColoRectal Educational Systems Template, commonly known as CREST®, meaning ESCP members will have access to the dynamic online learning programme from June this year.


ESCP has joined ASCRS to not only allow ESCP members to access this valuable educational resource but also to work jointly with ASCRS to develop CREST® into the premier educational portal for colorectal surgery.

CREST® offers a number for features that ESCP members will benefit from including:

  • Topics arranged by the six pillars of colorectal disease: perioperative, malignancy, anorectal disease, benign disease, pelvic floor and miscellaneous.
  • Each topic offers learning materials in a variety of mediums, such as narrated presentations, videos, journal articles, and book chapters, to encourage learning in the ways users find most helpful.
  • A post-assessment and evaluation are available after the user completes all of the required content in each topic.
  • Optimised to be mobile-friendly, the program renders equally well across computers, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Review the program materials anytime, even after you've already completed the module.

The link-up followed several meetings between the ESCP education committee over the past few years, led by Baljit Singh, Klaus Matzel and Dieter Hahnloser and ASCRS executives including Guy Orangio and Dr David Margolin.

Baljit Singh said:

“This is an exciting development for ESCP and its members. This is the first time two major colorectal societies have joined together to share their educational resources to develop a globally-accessible and leading colorectal educational platform. Instructions will be sent to ESCP members on how to access CREST from June. In the longer term ESCP, jointly with ASCRS, plan to further develop CREST® using educational resources from both societies.”

Dr David Margolin, President ASCRS, added:

“We’re proud to offer ESCP members access to the ASCRS CREST® online education portal. Working together, our two societies will make CREST® the premier, world-leading colorectal educational platform.”